Having ileostomy Stoma revision on March 3rd. Surgeon said it will most likely take place in the same site. My stoma is almost flush on the lower part and it points straight down. He said possibly 3-5 days in hospital and 3-5 weeks off work. I was thinking it would be a lot less. Maybe 1-2 days hospital and 1-2 weeks off.

Anybody have this done? How long was your hospital stay and time off work?

Thanks

I haven't had it done yet myself but it may be on the cards when I go on for my hernia repair on the 9th March. You have to remember that this is what is known as "dirty" surgery because your surgeron will be cutting into the bowel itself to create a new stoma. This leaves you more open to infection than say just a hernia repair or freeing off adhesions.

He will probably remove the old stoma and make a new one from the remaining terminal ileum and this will take the same time to heal as your first stoma did.

They do things a little differently here so we usually end up having to stay in hospital for quite a bit longer than on your side of the Pond. I would say that a 7 day stay would be ambitious if I were having a stoma revision.

Good luck with your surgery. Let us know how it goes.

Take care.

Shell

hello...i was going to start a new thread but since you are going for stoma surgery maybe you know the answer to this......

i'm wondering about which products are safe to use right away, when your stoma is first healing? is it okay to use glue or paste to fill in dips when you have a new stoma and stitches and everything? i am getting a permanent ostomy done and i know from my temporary ostomy that it does not stay on without those products...i don't want to be leaking all the time when i'm in the hospital and damage my skin. i'm just worried that i will slow down the healing process or rip out a stitch when i peel the wafer off to change the bag...i also hate the clear bags they put on me in the hospital- do you think they would care if i brought in a 2 piece right away?

After the first surgery I had.. the Wound nurses had me using paste right away. NOw I prefer Eakin seals .. all they are is paste that is already setup. I know they will put the standard clear one piece on me at the end of the surgery. I do plan on bringing some two piece and an Eakin seal. I don't see why they wouldn't let us use them.

Thanks for the comments Shell. I will post as soon as I get back.

I think they want to use the clear bags in the hospital so they can monitor your output and the appearance of your stoma. I hate them too. I hope your surgeries go well.

I would say that the only thing they probably won't let you use at first is a convex wafer. This is because the pressure it causes may pull on the stitches and might pull the skin away from the stoma. Like the others have mentioned, they will need to be able to see you stoma for the first few days so you'll have to put up with the clear bags following surgery, but once it's established that you have no problems with your output or stoma then there's no reason why you can't switch to the opaque bags.

Good luck to you both with your surgeries.

Take care.

Shell

Had the surgery yesterday March 3rd at 1:30.. Was walking by 6:30 .. And just got home today March 4th @ 12:30.

No open surgery.. No laproscopic surgery. He just cut around the skin next to the stoma pulled up on the small bowel, cut off the end and reattached.. sticks out about an inch. Perfectly round.

Very pleased.. Now just have to deal with the pain and super restrictive diet for a few weeks.

Andy

Hi Andy. that's brilliant news! I'm so glad that your surgery was such a simple one and that you were able to go home so quickly. They really do let you out early om your side of the Pond don't they?

As I'm having a hernia repair (using mesh) as well as the possible resiting of Wee Willie I am expecting to have to stay in for about a week, especially if my surgeon has to move Wee Willie over to the other side. This is because I will have the old stoma site as well as my mid line incision for the hernia to heal. Bit more complicated than just a stoma revision using the same site I think.

Anyway, hope your recovery is as smooth as your surgery was.

Take care.

Shell

Glad your procedure went smoothly...I can't believe you are home already--amazing what they can do.

Keep us updated on your recovery and take care!!

Becky

Did my first wafer change this morning. Before the revision I was 30mm .. Now its 35mm. I know it takes 6 weeks for the swelling to go down. I hope I get back to 30mm.

Another nice surprise.. no more convexity. That makes for less expensive wafers